Applications Open
December 2024
The primary goal of the Student Engagement Program (SEP) is to increase opportunities for professional engagement by embracing individuals with various lived experiences and perspectives, and by supporting students who have had to overcome barriers. SEP supports a variety of mentorship opportunities and focuses on using the WAFWA annual Summer Meeting as a place to enhance selected students’ professional growth. This allows ample opportunity for interaction and allows students to experience WAFWA and engage with a broad spectrum of conservation professionals and an expanded number of committees and events.
Who:
WAFWA invites undergraduate and graduate university students who are interested in working in state fish and wildlife agencies to apply. Applicants must be a resident of or a student in a university in a WAFWA member state or province: Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Northwest Territories, Oklahoma, Oregon, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Yukon.
Where:
Successful applicants will attend the WAFWA Annual Summer Meeting in Provo, Utah. This conference is attended annually by 300+ fish and wildlife professionals from western state agencies, federal agencies, and partners. This is a special year because the Conservation Business Managers Association (CBMA) will be holding a joint session with WAFWA. That’s access to 200+ more natural resource-related staff contacts than a standard Summer Meeting would provide!
What:
The Student Engagement Program will provide participants:
- Meeting registration and a federal-rate per diem stipend
- Travel and housing accommodations for the event
- Mentoring opportunities with professionals within WAFWA
- Professional development skills education, practice and critique
- Dedicated student/professional networking opportunities
- Access to committee sessions at the event to witness current issue discussions
- Newsletter updates including career opportunities sent to participants after the event
How:
To apply, interested students must complete the application and send it to StudentEngagement@wafwa.org.
This program is hosted by WAFWA’s Access and Engagement Committee.
When:
Applications Due
March 3, 2025
Participants Notified
Mid-March 2025
Participants Arrive at Conference
June 1, 2025
Student Workshop
June 2, 2025
Participants Attend Conference Sessions
June 3-5, 2025
Participants Depart
June 5, 2025
2024 Student Engagement Experience Wrap Up
WAFWA hosted the first cohort of six students at our Annual Summer Meeting in Stevenson, WA in June 2024 through the Student Engagement Program. Six graduate and undergraduate students were selected from a strong panel of applicants. All applicants had a shared interest in natural resources/conservation and were deserving students of, or recent graduates of, a western state that represents WAFWA’s member agencies.
This bright bunch of young professionals arrived on location ready to learn and get the most out of the week. To kick the week off, WAFWA hosted a Student Engagement Workshop for the students to hone their professional skills and provide practical tools to apply in the next steps of their educational and career paths. Leaders from member agencies gave presentations focusing on career development and answered valuable questions ranging from personal experience to shedding light on the inner workings of the state hiring process. The day dedicated to the workshop was an informative asset to the week, many students agree the one-on-one connections they made with state personnel throughout the week was the most exciting part of their experience.
The students attended a student mixer and WAFWA Summer meeting committee sessions with professionals within their scope of interest. They witnessed the inner workings of decision making and saw firsthand the processes of moving forward the like-minded goal of conservation. The students valued being present in these various sessions and claimed it was eye-opening and inspiring to be among such professionals.
They wrapped up their experience with the celebration of some of the most influential leaders in conservation at WAFWA’s awards banquet. All six students made valuable connections with working professionals and decision makers. A couple students even landed internships for the remainder of the summer.
Previous Participants Statements
“I couldn’t have imagined the powerful impact of being a member of the Student Engagement Program Cohort. I have never been amongst so many decision makers or seen so many different forms that the wildlife profession can take. I was able to sit in on conversations that hit on the most relevant and hot button topics, that researchers are trying to find methodologies to, managers are trying to implement, chiefs are trying to oversee, and directors are funding and selling the ideas for. There is a growing recognition that the more diverse a group we have at the table, the more creative and flexible our problem-solving ability will be. I was honored to be invited into the room, and to have professionals show genuine interest in engaging with students. It demonstrated a commitment and investment in the next generation that I haven’t often seen.” – Elizabeth Painter-Flores, 2024 SEP Student
“Before coming to this conference, I didn’t really know anything about working with fish and wildlife agencies. I didn’t have any experience and the only interactions I had was getting my bow and rifle registered for 4-H shooting competitions. I only knew that I was interested in it. Participating in this program helped me find specific jobs of interest that I didn’t know were options (like R3s or working in communications), in addition to learning more about how to get into fields I already had interest in (like wildlife biology, conservation, and rehabilitation). I would definitely consider working for the state or federal agencies, especially now that I know there are way more job options than I originally thought.” -Jade Collins, 2024 SEP Student
“As a graduate student, it can be challenging to figure out next steps, particularly when academic research is at the forefront of your graduate school experience. The Student Engagement Program allowed me to more fully understand the management side of fish and wildlife and piqued my interest in various agency initiatives.
This experience was unparalleled to other conferences and workshops I have attended. It gave me the opportunity to connect with high-level industry professionals that I would not have otherwise met in the academic world. Observing the nitty gritty of organizational decision-making in action is something that many people never get to see, let alone while you are still a student. Having this experience early on in my career helped me see where I can see myself in this field and how I can get there.” – Lily Olmo, 2024 SEP Student
“From the moment I got off the flight the hospitality, the staff, the other students, the different professionals were all so welcoming. This conference has truly helped me get ready to advance the next step in my career. Getting to meet and have one on one conversations with some high-level professionals from all the Western agencies was the best part.”- Sierra Williams, 2024 SEP Student
Help Support our Effort
This program is primarily funded by WAFWA member agencies who have volunteered to contribute. If your agency is interested in participating, we can use your support, too! See Member Support Flyer (5mb)
Would you like to sponsor next year’s student program? Additional support will stretch our member dollars to reach more students! See our Partner Sponsorship Flyer (5mb) or contact Zach Lowe (zach.lowe@wafwa.org) if you are interested in partnering with this effort.
Finally, spread the word! We accept college students from Western States and Provinces. 2025 Student Engagement Flyer (789kb)
